Allen vacancy appointment
Governor Eric Holcomb has appointed Lori Morgan to the Allen County Superior Court, Family Relations Division, succeeding Judge Charles Pratt, who retired in May. Morgan served for 26 years as a magistrate in the Family Relations Division at the Allen Superior Court. From 1990-1995, she was a sole practitioner in Fort Wayne handling a wide variety of cases. She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from the University of Iowa.
Kosciusko vacancy appointment
Governor Eric Holcomb has appointed Karin McGrath to the Kosciusko County Superior Court, succeeding Judge David Cates, who passed away in December 2020. McGrath runs a private practice focusing on children in need and family law and also serves as a judge for Teen Court. McGrath holds a bachelor’s degree from Greenville College and a J.D. from Valparaiso University Law School.
St. Joseph vacancy appointment
Governor Eric Holcomb has appointed Stephanie Steele to the St. Joseph Superior Court, succeeding Judge Jane Woodward Miller, who retired at the end of her term in December 2020. Steele has served as assistant city attorney and later, corporation counsel for the city of South Bend. She holds an undergraduate from the University of Michigan and law degree from Arizona State University
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt named Indiana Southern District Court chief judge
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt has been named the new chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, where she served as a district judge since 2010. Pratt succeeds Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson. Prior to her appointment as a federal district judge, Pratt served as a judge on the Marion Superior Court, Probate Division and later, Criminal Division. She also served as master commissioner for the Marion Superior Court from 1993 to 1996.
Grant County Family Recovery Court
Grant County Family Recovery Court has been selected as a 2021-2022 National Peer Learning Court by The Center for Children and Family Futures. The program highlights best practices and shares innovations that advance family treatment courts through peer-to-peer support.
Commercial court vacancy appointment
Vanderburgh Superior Court Judge Tom Massey has been appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court to the Commercial Courts, succeeding Judge Rich D’Amour, who retired on April 2. Massey has been a long-time practitioner in an Evansville law firm since 1984, the same year he graduated from Valparaiso University Law School and was admitted to the bar. He was appointed to Vanderburgh Superior Court in April 2021.
Adrienne Meiring named Disciplinary Commission Executive Director
Adrienne has been named Disciplinary Commission Executive Director. Meiring’s career with the Indiana Supreme Court began in 2005, primarily as the attorney for the seven-member Judicial Nominating/Qualification Commission. And a big thank you to Senior Judge Robert Mrzlack for stepping in as the Interim Executive Director after the previous Executive Director Mike Witte’s retirement earlier in 2021.
Leslie Dunn named IOCS Deputy Director
Indiana GAL/CASA director Leslie Dunn has been appointed to serve as a Deputy Director in IOCS, leading the Children and Families Division. Leslie has served as the state’s GAL/CASA director for nearly two decades and has been active in many IOCS initiatives. Prior to joining IOCS, Leslie served as chief legal counsel for the Marion County Office of Family and Children and practiced family law. Those who have worked with Leslie know the depth of her passion for the field and community and her knowledge of programs, law, and policy in this area.
Dolan receives NCSC award
The Office of Judicial Administration’s Kathryn Dolan received the National Distinguished Service award from the National Center for State Courts. Dolan leads the Indiana Supreme Court’s Office of Communication, Education, and Outreach in managing media inquiries, the Supreme Court Law Library, and judicial branch website. The award is presented annually to those who make significant contributions to the justice system and support the mission of NCSC.